ACC seeks prosecution of 4 Addu hospital employees over procurement irregularities

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has referred four employees of Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH), including paediatrician Dr Fathimath Amaanee Naseer, to the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) for prosecution over alleged corruption in the procurement of laboratory supplies.

According to the ACC, the case involves the purchase of micropipette tips at prices exceeding prevailing market rates, in violation of public finance regulations.

Micropipette tips are laboratory consumables used to transfer small quantities of liquids, including blood samples, between containers.

The ACC said Amaanee was referred for prosecution in her capacity as a member of the hospital's bid committee, which approved the procurement.

The three other employees referred for prosecution are:

The ACC said the investigation concerned a tender announced by AEH last year to procure laboratory supplies required for four months of operations at the hospital and health centres under its administration.

The tender included the procurement of 40,000 micropipette tips, for which only one bidder submitted an offer.

According to the commission, the procurement proceeded without an assessment of whether the price quoted by the sole bidder was reasonable.

The ACC said the purchase was made in violation of public finance regulations, as the items were procured at prices higher than those available in the market.

Following its investigation, the commission requested that the four employees be prosecuted for allegedly misusing their official positions.

The ACC also sought prosecution on allegations that the employees acted contrary to the state's interests in a matter where the government stood to benefit.

The case has been forwarded to the Prosecutor General's Office for a decision on whether to file criminal charges against the four individuals.